Jobs 911: Don't answer this question

by Brahm Resnik and Bert Sass - Feb. 12, 2010 08:19 PM12 News

Experts on career guidance and hiring say answering one particular question in a job interview is a no-win situation for the applicant. If it comes up, they actually recommend you politely decline to answer.

ASU senior Gabriela Johnson says the question came up in one of her interviews: "In a previous job, has there been a company policy you disagreed with?" Brian Gagan calls it "a dangerous question". Gagan is a partner at Leadership Strategies, a Scottsdale firm that does human resources consulting.

"This is filled with a lot of pitfalls," said Karen Lamb, Assistant Director of ASU Career Services. "Any way you answer it you're going to look like a renegade." According to Lamb, the "rule of thumb" for any interview question is to find a way to turn a negative into a positive. But she told 12 News, "It would be difficult to have any amount of honesty here and not get yourself in a difficult situation."

Lamb advised Johnson, "Never say anything negative about your former employer, even if they were Attila the Hun…because it's going to reflect negatively on you." Lamb added, "I think if you're criticizing any (company) policy, no matter how valid (the criticism is)…you're going to look bad. I would almost step away from this question." Politely decline to answer the question and emphasize that you would always follow company policies.

Johnson, who will graduate in May, majors in political science. She hopes to find a job with a non-profit group, or perhaps in international affairs. She lived much of her childhood in Brazil and speaks four languages including Portuguese.

Johnson already has had several part-time jobs, so she knows how to succeed in job interviews. But when asked how she would deal with something bad that happened to her on the job, she says, "I'm always at a loss." In her relatively brief work life, she has not had to deal with any situation she would call "difficult."

So what is she supposed to say to that question? Again, job experts told 12 News it's OK not to answer the question -- at least not directly. Gelie Akhenblit, founder and owner of NetworkingPhoenix.com, said, "You don't have to answer the specific question that they're asking, but if you can think of an incident that's going to show growth and turn something negative into a positive, that's going to go a really long way."

Gagan agreed, "The more you can turn it into a positive, whether it was a year ago or several years ago, is in your best interest."

"There's got to have been one situation or another (in your life) that was unpleasant," said Lamb. "We want to know how you resolved the situation. We're looking for problem solving skills. We're looking for diplomacy. We're looking for poise."

If you would like to be videotaped by 12 News and have the hiring experts give you advice, contact us by email: bresnik@12news.com or bsass@12news.com.